Academic Studies

Aims and content of the study course

The Art and Design Science Master study course is characterised by a research-oriented profile, and is aimed at encouraging the students to conduct their own independent research based on art and design scientific methods.

The study course provides the possibility for the students to acquire specialised knowledge oriented to current research issues on the basis of in-depth basic knowledge. Furthermore, the research-based teaching enables the students to address complex problems and solve them using scientific methods. The methodical and analytical expertise thus acquired is intended to promote independent, interdisciplinary expansion of scientific understanding. Research methods and strategies play a key role equal in importance to project works. 

A particular focus is on key career-relevant qualifications, with the goal of leading to interdisciplinary cooperation and thus opening up the students' training to a wide range of careers. An outstanding distinctive feature of the study course is provided by combining together design science with art science, namely an explicit expansion of the scientific themes and their practical vocational relevance through to areas of applied art – a principle absolutely unique in Germany. This process demands a greater degree of unity in teaching and research as well as orienting the theoretical emphases to current research developments in both subjects, to which the students are introduced by means of in-depth method and strategy skills. The communication of specialised comparative methods is also particularly aimed at. The communication of interdisciplinary expertise and the integration of scientific approaches in different subjects (besides art and design science: psychology, communication science, communication design, sociology of art, art didactics, music pedagogy, the humanities) are therefore key quality features of the Art and Design Science study course.

Continued emphasis is placed on engagement with design pedagogical issues.  The students acquire design pedagogy concept skills and are able to reflect on them and implement their didactics and methodology in mediation projects. Alongside design science, the science of art as well as the history and theory of photography, communication therefore provides another pillar of the Master study course. It opens up further vocational perspectives to the students in communicating art and design far beyond universities and schools. The students are actively integrated into research and development projects. Another special feature of the study course is the option of participating in the so-called "Folkwang Labs" (LABs). LABs are characterised by a general theme of social relevance, they bring together students and tutors of differing subjects and disciplines, and are distinguished by experimental, research as well as artistic and practically applied aspects.